Archaeologists have discovered the richest prehistoric tomb in eastern Poland, east of the Vistula. Its exact location has not yet been disclosed, for fear of looters.

Inside the tomb fragments of bronze vessels, silver-plated spurs and a golden ring were found, among other objects. The ring makes archaeologists believe that the buried individual was a mighty personage, perhaps a chieftain of a local tribe.

"Only a wealthy person could afford such rich burial equipment, with some of the objects being imported from other regions, including Rome itself," comments Andrzej Szela, Ph. D. from the Institute of Archaeology in the University of Warsaw, who oversaw the excavation works. According to his estimations, the burial took place around the turn of the first and second centuries AD.

The finds were made last summer but archaeologists only now decided to partially reveal them for fear of robbery - we know only that the tomb is located “somewhere in northern Mazovia” (region in central Poland). Precautionary measures are indeed required as the site shows signs of being looted at least once, probably in the 20th century.

"The grave discovered by us is the richest prehistoric burial unearthed so far east of the Vistula river," Mr Szela adds.
In the grave there were ritual objects such as four drinking horns with two of them topped in the form of bull heads - which is a unique find, the first in Poland.